Disappearing medicine cabinet



Feb. 24, 1959 c. J. RILEY DISAPPEARING MEDICINE CABINET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8. 1954 c. J. RILEY DISAPPEARING'MEDICINE vCABINET Feb; 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 28 29. INI/EN TOR. CLAUDE J. RILEY ATTORNEY Filed June 8, 1954 `DrsAPPnARING MEDICINE CABINET j =c1auaeJ.Ri1ey,Monne,n|. y Appliationsune s, 19s4,serial No. 435,115 1o claims. (crm-zza) The present invention relates generally to` medicine vcabinets land the like, `and t is 'more particularly concerned with medicine cabinets 'of the disappearing 'or 'concealed type.

`The object and general 'nature of this inventionis the provision' ofa concealed or disappearing medicine cabinet that is easily and quickly installed,-easily and conveniently "operated, and perfectly safe to use. More specifically, itis a feature of this invention to provide va disappearing medicine cabinet construction wherein the same may readily beinstalled through only a singleopening in the wall or partition receiving the cabinet, and it is a further `feature of this invention to provide a disappearing medicine construction wherein the operating meansds auto- :rnatically shut ofi `in the event .the hand or linger ofthe user should become caught `between the` cabinet and the wall opening into which the cabinet is adapted to move.

it is also a feature of this invention to provide a disappearing medicine cabinet construction wherein the cabinet proper merely rests on, and is readily liftable from, a carriage that is mounted for up and down movement within a supporting frame, and an additional feature of this invention is .the provision lof electric means for operating the carriage, with a safety switch adapted to be closed and operative only when the cabinet is resting on the carriage, the switch being opened, thereby terminating the lowering movement of the'carriage, if for any reason the cabinet does` not follow the carrier or carriage` -in its downward movement, `which might occur if an object, such as a bottle or the like, should fall off a shelf and wedge between a shelf and the adjacent portion Vof the wall :in'which the medicine cabinet ris mounted.

These and other objects and advantages of this inventionwill be apparent to those skilled in `the .art after a consideration of the following detailed description of one preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction *with the accompanying drawings in which said embodiment-has been shown by way of illustration.

In `the drawings. 1. t

Figure l,l is an `elevation of the preferred form of this invention, `certain parts being broken away in order to .show the interior construction. Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line Y2 2 of 4Figure .1. v

Figure 3 is a `fragmentary perspective view of a bathroom in whichA a disappearing medicine cabinet, in which the `principles of` the present invention have beenincorporated, is installed. Figure 44 is a side view of the `safety switch.

` f Figure 5 `is afragmentary sectional v'iew'taken along the line 5-5 of Figure l.

`Referring first to Figure 3, the disappearing medicine cabinet construction of the present 'invention 'is' indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral and is shown as mounted in a partition wall 11 between 'the lavatory a ,y 2,875,012 C@ Pernaut# 242 19159 `'and toilet stall. The medicine cabinet construction 10 comprises, in general, a medicine cabinet: proper, indicated fat 14, and ia supporting framework 15 in which the cabinet 14 is vertically shiftable from a concealed position, as shown in Figure 5, to an open or raised position,

22 that carries an `upper section 23 bearing decoration,

such as tile 24, according to the decoration of the wall 11 of which the medicine cabinet is a part. The tile 24 on the top of the medicine cabinet is preferably the same as the tile 24 on the bathroom walls.

The cabinet receiving and `supporting framework 15 comprises a plurality of vertical-angle members 27, a pair of lower cross angle members 28, a pair of lower `end angles 29, an upper pair of cross members 31, and a pair of upper end `members 32. These members are suitably secured together rigidly, as by Welding or the like. A `p air of end `pieces 33 form pulley supporting members, as willbe described in more detail later.

, A cabinet Acarrier or carriage, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 36, is mounted within the framework 1S for generally vertical movement and includes across angle 37and a pair of carriage slide plates 38 and 39 secured to `each end of the angle 37 with a spacer plate 41 between the plates 38 and 39 of each pair, as best shown -in-Fi'gures l and 4. A depending plate 42 is fixed to the lower `portion of each end wall 18 of the cabinet 14, each plate 42 being adapted to extend `down between the associated spaced carriage plates 38 and 39, `with its loweredge engaging the upper `edge of the spacer plate 41. A short reenforcing plate Athe upper edges ofthe spacer plates 41, the lower edges of the vreenforcing plates 44 rest on the upper edges of the associated laterally outer carriage plates 39. When the `carriage 36 is raised and lowered within the frame 15, theplates 3S, `3S?, 41, 42 and 44 slide and are guided in the frame angles 27, and thecabinetis thus supported on Ythe carriage but may readily be separated therefrom by an upward `movement of the cabinet relative `to the carriage. VFor example,the cabinet may readily be lifted away from nthe carriage in any position of the latter (except in the lowermost position), as for cleaning and other purposes, such as to secure access to the framework or mechanism carried thereby.

,VAccording to the 'principles of the present invention,

the carrieror carriage 36 is raised and lowered, to raise and lower the cabinet 14, by asystem of cables and pulleys, powered by an automatically controlled electric motor. This mechanism will now be described. p

An electric motor 50 of the reversible type is supported `in the lower part of the framework 15 by a bracket 51V or other suitable means. The motor 50 drives a winding drum 52 through suitable reducing gearing 53. One Vcable S5 extends directly upwardly from the winding drum 52 to the cabinet carriage 36 to which the upper end of `the cable 55 is connected, as at 56. A second cable 57 is xed at its lower end to the drum 52 and from the latter the cable `S7 extends over aV pulley 58 rotatably t at its lower end tothe drum 52 and is extended over a' pulley 68 rotatably mounted on a bracket 69 ixed to the adjacent frame angle 27, and from the pulley 68 the cable 67 extends upwardly to and over an upper pulley 69 and then down to 'a point of fixed connection withV the outercarriage plate v39 at that side of the cabinet.

As mentioned above, the motor 50 is reversible. From the line plug 71 a first conductor 72 extends to the motor directly, and a second and third conductors 73 and 74 extend to a condenser 75 that forms -a part of the motor 50. The conductors 73 and 74 extend to a reversing switch 78, as will be clear from Figure 1, and the'reversing switch 78 includes an operating lever 79. Asafety switch 80, mounted on the carriage angle 37 as best shown in Figure 4, is interposed in a conductor 81, Figure 1, the` outer section 81a ofwhich leads tothe line plug 71.

A manually controllable push button switch 86, mounted at any suitable or convenient point on the wall 11, is

connected by a conductor 87 to one terminal of a limit switch S8, which is of the normally closed type, and the conductor 81 is also connected to this terminal. The other conductor 91 from the push button 86 is connected to one terminal of a lower limit switch, shown at 92, which also is of the normally closed type. From the same terminal of the limit switch 92 a conductor 93 leads to the third terminal of the reversing switch 78, there being a conductor 94 that interconnects the other terminals of the two limit switches 88 and 92.

The safety switch 80 mentioned above is mounted on the angle 37 of the cabinet carrier and includes two contacts 97 and 98 normally biased for open position but which are heldin closed position, as shown in Figure 4, by movement of an operating arm 99 into a downward position (Figure 4). According to the present invention, the arm 99 is hel-d in this position so long as the medicine cabinet 14 is mounted in place on the carriage 36. To this end the arm 99 has an end 101 extending outwardly through an opening 102 in the inner carriage plate 38 and into the path of the cabinet plate 42, so that the weight of the cabinet keeps the arm 99 down in the position shown in Figure 4, and that maintains the safety switch contacts 97 and 98 closed. If, for example, looking at Figure 3, the cabinet should be lifted out of the opening 105 in the wall 11, as for cleaning or other purpose, the end 101 of the arm 99 would move upwardly and interrupt the operating circuit by opening the contacts 97 and 98. The same would occur if, for example, during lowering of the cabinet, as from the position shown in Figure 3, a persons hand or linger should get caught between a shelf and the wall, or if a bottle or other container should become jammed between some part of the cabinet and the wall 11. y

The normally closed limit switches 88 and 92 are utilized for automatically stopping raising or lowering of the cabinet at its end positions. To this end, a vertical bar 108 is ixed by upper and lower insulated connectors 109 to the carriage plates 38 and'39. The bar 108 extends downwardly, as best shown in Figure 1, and at its lower end carries an inwardly extending abutment 111 that, when the cabinet reaches its uppermost position (Figure l), contacts the button 112 of the lower limit switch 92 and moves it to open the switch 92 and thus interrupts the flow of current to the motor 50. To

limit the downward movement of the cabinet 14, a portion 114 of the latter is disposed so as to contact and move the button 115 of the upper limit switch 88.

The depending bar 108 also carries a pair of arms 118 and 119 that extend laterally inwardly so as to be in a 'position to engage and reverse the lever 79 of the reversing switch 78. The latter is of the snap action type, and the parts are so arranged that, when the cabinety approaches either of its end positions, Ithe reversing arm 1718 or 119, engagesv lever 79 and starts the latter towards .switch means on said cross piece.

ammore A its other position, but before the lever reaches its other position, the abutmentmeans, 111 or 114, opens the associated limit switch, 92 or 88, so that by the time the reversing switch reaches its other or reversed position, the associated limit switch has opened the circuit. The cabinet thus is retained in its position until the push button 86 is again operated. Operating the manual push button 86 serves to momentarily bypass the open limit switches and cause movement of the cabinet 14 and carriage 36. It is necessary to hold the push button down only long enough for the movement of the bar 108 and abutment 111, or the switch-operating cabinet portion 114, to move away from the associated limit switch and permit the latter to close.

The framework 15 is supported in detachable relation on a plurality of brackets that are set in the upper vportions of the wall 11 (Figure 5) and the cross meinbers 31 are removably seated in lugs 126 on the brackets Suitable fasteners may be provided for holding the framework in place. Thus, the framework 15, with yall associated operating mechanism, wiring and the like,

may readily be installed, and after installation may readily beA removed at any time for inspection and! or repair.

While I have shown and described above the preferred v`structure in which the principles of the present inven`` `tion have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely dif- -ferent means may be employed in the broader aspects of Imy invention.

Whatl claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V1. A disappearing medicine cabinet construction com- -prising a supporting framework, means serving as a carriage movable generally vertically in said framework, an electricm'otor carried by the lower portion of said framework' and connected to operate said carriage, a

medicine cabinet,means removably connecting the lower portion of said cabinet with said carriage, and safety switch means having a cabinet-actuated part mounted on said carriage in a position such that said switch means is closed as long as the cabinet is supported on said carriage, said switch means being connected to control said motor, said cabinet having a pair of spaced apart leg sections extending downwardly from the lower portion of the cabinet, and said carriage having two pairs of upwardly extending parts, the parts of leach pair being spaced apart to receive the associated cabinet leg section therebetween, said safety-switch part being located so.- as to be operated by one of said cabinet leg sections.

2. A Vmedicine cabinet construction as defined in claim l, further characterized by said carriage including a cross piece on which said safety switch means is disposed, andfone of said upwardly extending parts on the carriage having an opening through which said safety switch part extends.

3. A disappearing medicine cabinet construction, comprising a supporting framework, means serving as a carriage movable generally vertically in said framework, an electric motor connected with said carriage and frame- "workfor moving the carriage in said framework, a medicine cabinet having a pair of spaced apart leg sections extending downwardly from the lower portion of the cabinet, said carriage having leg-receiving parts spaced apart to receive the associated cabinet leg sections, and safety switch means having a cabinet-actuated part lo cated so asto be operated by one of said cabinet leg sections, said safety switch means being connected to control said motor.

4. A medicine cabinet construction as defined in claim 3, further characterized by a cross piece interconnecting said leg-receiving parts, and means mounting said safety 5. A medicine cabinet construction as defined in claim 3, further characterized by said leg-receiving parts being spaced on said carriage so as to lie at the inner sides of said cabinet leg sections, one of said leg-receiving parts having an open portion, and said cabinet-actuated part extending through said open portion.

6. A disappearing medicine cabinet construction vcomprising the combination of a wall having an upwardly facing opening, a supporting and guiding framework, a carriage mounted within said framework for vertical movement therein, a medicine cabinet resting on said carriage, said opening being large enough to receive said cabinet, said carriage, and framework, a safety switch carried by the upper portion of said carriage and having a part adapted to be engaged and moved by a portion of the lower part of said cabinet, and means including said safety switch for moving said carriage.

7. A disappearing medicine cabinet construction comprising a supporting framework, means serving as a carriage movable generally vertically in said framework, a medicine cabinet having a pair of spaced apart leg sections extending downwardly from the lower portion of the cabinet, said carriage having leg-receiving parts spaced apart to receive the associated cabinet leg sections, and means connected with said carriage to raise and lower said cabinet, said carriage including a cross member at the upper portion of the carriage, and said legreceiving parts including a pair of carriage plates secured to each end of said cross member and spaced apart to receive the associated cabinet leg section.

8. A disappearing medicine cabinet as defined in claim 7, further characterized by said supporting framework including generally vertical angles, the outer spaced apart leg-receiving parts being slidably disposed in the corners of said angles, and reenforcing plates xed to the laterally outer sides of said cabinet leg sections and also received inthe corner portions of said angles.

9. A disappearing medicine cabinet construction as defined in claim 8, further characterized by said reenforcing plates resting at their lower edges on the outer of said leg-receiving parts when the lower edges of said cabinet leg sections are disposed between the leg-receiving parts of said carriage.

10. A disappearing-medicine cabinet construction comprising the combination of a wall having an upwardly facing opening, a supporting and guiding framework, a carriage mounted within said framework for vertical movement therein, a medicine cabinet resting on said carriage, said opening being large enough to receive said cabinet, said carriage, and said framework, a safety switch mounted on said carriage and having a part adapted to be engaged and moved by a portion of said cabinet, and means including said safety switch for moving said carriage.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,486,176 Wolters Mar. 11, 1924 2,266,268 Robinson Dec. 16, 1941 2,565,304 Garstang et al. Aug. 21, 1951 2,575,725 McKay Nov. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 436,976 Great Britain Oct. 22, 1935 

